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Welcome Everyone

The wonderful world of Zoe is what I hope to share with you all here on my blog. Life isn't always easy, but then that's the case whoever you are. But no matter what each day brings I always try to start and end it with a smile - to look back and know I controlled my day, the day didn't control me!

Wednesday, 30 December 2015

Hello desk dashers. Here we are for the last share of 2015. As always I'm linking up with Julia and others

Here's my desk -

So there's my new calendar & planner stickers

So in the window you can see my new A4 planner - it's a mix of business and personal so perfect for me now with my charity work. There's my new colouring books I had for Christmas - Secret Garden, Doctor Who & Harry Potter. New diaries and new pens. Plus the usual Book Art WIP.

Thought I'd share some of my highlights for 2015 as well -

Bristol Rovers getting to Wembley and winning promotion back to the football league. Me and Keagan were there to witness it - such an amazing day.

My 40th birthday was just 3 days before Wembley and 2 days before the WOYWW May crop. These were taken by LLJ - receiving my card and present (Wooden desk storage made by Julia - I use it everyday.) and cutting my Bristol Rovers cake (what else would it be?!).

As a parent you encourage and support your children. Ever since Keagan was a small boy all he's ever wanted to do is to become a jump jockey. He knew in order to do that he had to try and get in to the world's best Racing college in Newmarket. No easy task as they only take about 200 trainees per year and those trainees are not just from the UK but from Europe too.

As you can see by these photos he was accepted onto the course and is up there in Newmarket right now. Literally living his dream.

He has to pass the 14 week course to be able to work full time in a racing yard. Once in the yard he has to prove to the trainer he has what it takes to be a jockey. He then has to go back to The British Racing School to take the 5 day course to obtain his racing licence.

Seeing my boy fulfil a lifetime ambition has to be my highlight of the year!

Monday, 28 December 2015

I thought I'd pop onto Blogger to catch up with you all. I hope you all enjoyed the festivites and my thoughts go out to any of you affected by the flooding. I know many crafters around the country are watching rising water levels.

The last few days have been very happy and full of excitement. On Christmas Eve I finally launched the website/shop that I'm running along with my friend Lisa. I've worked on the site for a few weeks so to finally publish it live was exciting. You can check it out here -

I spent Christmas day with my parents and other family & friends. As you know Keagan is at The British Racing school so wasn't at home this year. First time in 17 years I've not been with Keagan, but we got to see him on Boxing Day and yesterday as we went up to Newmarket Boxing day afternoon. We travelled back last night. Lots of congestion on the M11 & M25. Many travelling back after their Christmas visits I think!

My Baxter didn't miss out he had a stocking but his main present is on order - a new blue bed with his name on it!

So Newmarket and The British Racing school was next. Keagan had to work on Christmas Day and all over the weekend. Horses have to be fed and mucked out no matter the day, but we did get to spend a few hours with him Boxing night and then on Sunday.

Opening presents

Keagan is looking well & has put some muscle on!

I bought him Tetris Bop It. Turned out to be a great present!

Me and my boy when we took him out for lunch yesterday.

Won't be long and he will be home on his weekend off. Then he will be home in February.

Friday, 18 December 2015

I'm back to join up with Annie and her Friday smiles - my smiles this week are all about my Companion dog Baxter. He is a Terrier X. Though what no one seems to agree!

I rescued him in 2013. He is now 10 and has always had many issues due to his upbringing and poor treatment. Behaviourist were very worried about him when he first went to the home. Even setting up a video to monitor him. But they quickly worked out he was so scared of the kennel noise and other dogs!

He improved a lot with them once they moved him away from dogs and into a quieter area. He also has legs problem where the bones didn't grow properly. So he can't do long walks yet has energy to burn. He thinks he's still 2 I swear!

So I fell in love with him & took him home. It's been hard but over the last 2 and half years we have come a long way. I have the time & patience to work with him you see. He is my best friend - always by my side or on my lap! In fact he is on my lap now as I type.

Wednesday, 16 December 2015

I'm actually typing this while talking to Keagan who is telling me all about his morning riding out at The British Racing. They are being allowed to go much faster now & experiencing some proper racing exercise speeds. He's getting progress reports and is receiving good feedback from his instructors. He is now in his 7th week! Half way through.

Right desk -

Yep a mess. I've been colouring so my pencil tins are out. I've been keeping boxes from parcels I receive to reuse.

Monday, 14 December 2015

Just a quick post to share a few pics of items that I've been loading up to our online shop. It hasn't gone live yet but you can follow all the news and be the first to know when we are live over on our Facebook page - Creative Together

Wednesday, 9 December 2015

As always I'm here to share my desk but first I'd like to say I have some exciting news and an update on Keagan on my post from earlier in the week. I know many of you would want to know/see this so I thought I'd say!

Right back to the desk -

So right side has a Christmas Wobbler sheet I've not made up yet.

The window side sees cards left to dry over night.

I really love these wobblers such fun.

I announced on other social media that I'm not sending Christmas cards this year as I have decided to make a donation instead to my charity fundraising. However I have made these for close family.

Monday, 7 December 2015

I'm back to share some exciting news with you all. In a few weeks myself and my best friend Lisa (Lisa came to WOYWW crops with me) will be launching our very own website/shop. It's called -

I'm busy working on the site (I designed the banner above too) and it hasn't published yet, however I have set up a Facebook page where you can keep up with news & updates and see photos of the kind of projects we will be selling in our shop. Here's the link -

Proceeds from the items I sell will be donated to BANES Young Carers this charity helps so many young carers in our area including my boy, Keagan. My items will include Book Art and decorated notebooks.

Lisa is a qualified Florist so as well as papercrafting projects she will also sell floral items such as buttonholes, corsages and hairbands for example.

We have been friends since playschool (nearly 38 yrs now!) and we both have always loved craft/art. Over the years we've attended craft fairs together and have always shared ideas and techniques hence the name - Creative Together!

On a personal note, I visited Keagan this weekend. As you know if you visit me regularly, Keagan is attending the British Racing School in Newmarket to start his career in horse racing. I'm happy to say he is settled, looks well and is enjoying his time there. Here's pic I took -

Friday, 4 December 2015

My smile is huge today. All because I am visiting my son, Keagan, this weekend!!!!! He has now been away 5 weeks and it's the longest we have ever gone without seeing each other. It's been so hard, but made a bit easier as I know he is happy and chasing his dream.

My bestie is coming to look after Baxter too. I'll leave you with some of the photos I sent Keagan this week of Baxter and of my Christmas tree!!

Those who know me won't be surprised that it is blue and white/silver!

Baxter snoozing next to me.

Here Baxter was waiting to see if I would give him a bit of my ice lolly!!

Friday, 27 November 2015

So after last week where I struggled with my conditions, this week has been much better. I've seen my friends (had to cancel plans last week) inc going to teach art/colouring to my friend's children who are homeschooled. I had my hair cut and have dyed it. I'm seeing another friend today and we are talking craft!

I also managed to complete November Kit and Clowders Create & Learn class. Here's the pics -

So my hair is now very red - believe me it's much redder than this pic shows!

The cut is an asymetrical long pixie cut!! Longer one side with longer layers from the top while other side is cut short above my ear and the back is short too. Very easy for me to manage.

Here's a before pic - hair was very long and untidy. The style had grown out. You can see the colour better. I took this the morning after it was dyed.

Wednesday, 25 November 2015

So the right side is a bit of mess. I've just signed up to a monthly class with Kit and Clowder. So of course I've got a folder to put the theory stuff and my work as I go. Pens out everywhere!

The window side is tidier. There's a WIP book art going on, then my pile of Spectrum Noir pencil tins and then my colouring books. I recently bought one that cost me £9.99. BUT...Tesco has started selling them.

I bought this Animal one from Tesco for £4.

And this Lost Ocean one for £6. That's over half price each. Happy Zoe.

I do love these - the foiling makes them 'posh colouring books' as my mum called them!!

Keagan Update - he had a rough week last week as he had a fall and injured his ankle, thankfully a day's rest with ice pack sorted it out and he was back riding sooner rather than later. Then he got bit! Those horses are powerful. The bite went right through and broke the skin. Keagan says it was swollen and bruised. But I know it's better now. I spoke to him last night and he's had a few really good days riding. He is enjoying riding the bigger horses which are a challenge. But he's loving it!

He's so happy, you can hear it in his voice. While it is long days and hard work he's coping with it all. Washing being done regularly and he's had no problems getting up at 5.15am each day ready to be in the yard for 6am! Am looking forward to seeing him when I visit in a couple of weeks.

Saturday, 21 November 2015

Happy Saturday! Today I'm going to share a simple tutorial to show how to colour red. It can be a tricky colour to do. Before I start I must point you all towards Alyce at Kit and Clowder I've learned so much from taking Alyce's classes. I've coloured for years but Alyce helped me to further my colouring, showing me how to add more depth and detail.

I found a free clipart image of a santa hat to do this tutorial -

So these are the reds - using Copics.

I start by putting the darkest red. I want the hat to appear round. So putting the darkest in these areas will help to create this look. It'll make more sense at the end!

I add the medium red going over the darkest and bringing this red further into the hat.

Then I use the lighter red to blend over the top of these colours leaving a white area where I want the hat to be the lightest.

This first layer is mapping out the areas of light and dark. I didn't even use all of my reds I just chose the dark, medium and light for this mapping layer.

Now the next layer -

I use the 2nd darkest red bringing it much further into the hat. The problem with red is that if you use more of the lightest it can appear pinker than you want.

I used the medium red to blend this again leaving a small white area.

The lightest red I just used to blend into the white I didn't go over any of the dark areas this time as I didn't want to desaturate the red.

Okay so the hat looks good but I want to add more depth so I use a dark grey. Greys are fabulous for adding to any colour. If you choose a grey that is slightly darker than your darkest colour it will blend nicely.

I chose C7 and added it only to the very darkest areas being quite precise to only add it to the areas that will enhance shape.

As before I worked through my reds to blend the grey out. I'm left with a nice red hat that has depth and shape.

So now I want to create a fluffly bobble and trim.

To do this I use my greys & blender.

So I use dots, don't press too hard as you want small dots. Adding the darkest grey first I go around the edge.

I go over the darkest with the medium grey. Creating dots of different sizes working further into the trim and bobble.

The lightest grey covers the other 2 blending. However I try not to blend every dot as I need the different tones to create shape.

I use my blender to smooth out the lightest areas. As you can see the trim and bobble now look fluffy and have shape.

I usually add some sparkle too!!

The ideas here work with any colour. If you map our your image using a dark, medium and light you will create shape. By adding further layers and depth creates an image that looks more 3D.

About Me

My name's Zoe, I'm 42 and I live in Somerset. I'm a reader, a writer and a crafter. Anything creative really interests me. I also support Bristol Rovers and am the Secretary of the Official Bristol Rovers Disabled Supporters Association. I have Scoliosis, Ehlers-Danlos Hypermobility Syndrome, POTS & Fibromyalgia. But most importantly I'm a mum, the best job in the world. I'm lucky enough to have a wonderful son to be very proud of!